Gareth Southgate mocked with kangaroo by Middlesbrough teammate after Australia defeat

Gareth Southgate has told his England stars to be ready for some ribbing if the Three Lions slip up against Australia on Friday.

The England boss was part of the squad that were beaten 3-1 by the Socceroos in their last meeting at Upton Park in 2003.

Southgate was playing for Middlesbrough at the time and came up against club teammate and Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

When the pair returned to club duties, Schwarzer got stuck into Southgate by turning up to training with an inflatable kangaroo.

The England boss goes head to head with the Socceroos at Wembley on Friday and is keen for his players to avoid a similar fate.

“We’ve talked to the players about the England-Australia sporting rivalry and we know what that means,” said Southgate.

«I played with a lot of Aussies and when they beat us at Upton Park they were pretty quick to come back to Middlesbrough. Schwarzer had a blow up kangaroo under his arm and he was making hay with it all. There’s plenty of rivalry going on.

»I think it is generally a sporting rivalry. I suppose I keep having to say to our players before these games ‘Look lads, this another country that doesn’t particularly like us, so get prepared for that, they want to make hay and beat us’. They’ll be highly motivated."

England have long shared a rivalry with Australia that has transcended through a host of sports.

The rivalry remains stronger in cricket and rugby but the opportunity for both sides to get one over each other at any given opportunity is rarely something to be passed up.

Southgate is likely to opt for fringe players against Australia ahead of Tuesday’s crunch Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.

The Three Lions hold a six-point lead over Italy in qualifying and a win against Luciano